Inzamam denies being offered Pak batting coach job

Islamabad, July 1: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq has denied reports that he is in line to take over as the national team's batting coach after team's poor show in the recent Champions Trophy in England.

"This time no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board has contacted me as yet regarding the batting coach position. Many people are asking me about this but I've had no contact from the PCB," he said.

Inzamam was, last December, approached by the board to work as a batting consultant with the national team and even worked with the players before they went to India for a one-day series.

"Inzamam was invited to travel with the team to India but declined as he had prior commitments with an Indian channel for the series. The board than asked him to accompany the team to South Africa," the source recalled.

"Unfortunately the PCB and Inzamam couldn't reach an agreement so the former captain didn't travel to South Africa," he added.

Inzamam said there was no doubt that the national team required the services of a proper batting coach or consultant.

"I would say it should be someone who has lots of experience of playing international pressure games and someone who is respected in Pakistan cricket," the former captain said.

The stylish batsman also said he was disgusted by the team's performance in the Champions Trophy.

"We put up a disgraceful show in the tournament although we were expected to make the semi finals," he noted.

"The players didn't do justice to their green blazer and fans. It was a huge disappointment and at times difficult to watch. I think a number of players performed well below expectations and some of them did not do justice to the Pakistan shirt during the tournament."

"The batting was in absolute shambles and looked all at sea throughout the tournament. The line-up we had at the Champions Trophy is better than the totals made in England," said Inzamam.

Inzamam said he was surprised by the flop-show as the batsmen had been preparing for the tournament in advance.

"They have problems of confidence and self belief and until these issues are sorted out they will never be consistent and fall under pressure," he said.

"Pakistani batsmen looked as if they had been brought together a few days ahead of the tournament and given a bat for the first time."

The former captain advised the national selectors to try some new players for the West Indies tour without any fear of losing as they must start planning ahead for the next World Cup.

"I don't think we have enough time to now delay these hard decisions. We need to give confidence to new and young players and not discard them after just a few matches. Give them time to settle down and show their mettle at the top level."

"No young cricketer can perform in circumstances when they play one game, are subsequently dropped and then brought back in the very next game," he said.